Stories from Friday, May 20, 1994

PERRYVILLE -- Everett Joseph Schremp, 79, of Perryville, died Thursday, May 19, 1994, at his home. He was born Feb. 14, 1915, in Perry County, son of Isidore and Mary Milfelt Schremp. He married Anna Elizabeth Brugger, Sept. 15, 1938, at Jackson. Schremp was retired from International Shoe Company in Perryville...

No one can spend money like federal judges on a misguided mission to save the world. Since 1981, Missouri has spent $2.5 billion to carry out federal court mandates to desegregate public schools in St. Louis and Kansas City. The state has set aside $361 million for desegregation costs in the 1995 fiscal year, which begins July 1. That's a lot of money to spend to educate students in just two school districts...

The Lyme Disease Self-Help Support Group will meet May 31 at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The general meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Harrison Room. A support group meeting for patients will be held from 6-7 p.m. Debbie Leoni, director of Southeast's Fitness and Wellness Center, will talk about activities for Lyme patients...

JEFFERSON CITY -- National Trails Day is June 5, and Missourians who want to celebrate the event by hiking can choose from dozens of areas owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). "When people think of hiking trails, they usually think of the Mark Twain National Forest or state parks," said MDC Publicist Jim Low. ...

Cape Girardeau anglers were in the fishing spotlight during the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities Celebrity Invitational Pro-Am Bass Fishing Tournament, held recently at Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in West Kentucky. Jerry Davis, Cape Girardeau area McDonald's owner/operator, said the tournament was a big winner for children who will receive benefits from the proceeds. The event netted more than $8,000 for children's charities...

BENTON -- James Harold Lawless, 70, of Benton, died Thursday, May 19, 1994, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 2, 1923, at Marmaduke, Ark., son of William and Mary Cole Lawless. He married Angie Dunlap, Aug. 19, 1941...

Two professors were talking recently about changes we have seen in our 30 years at Southeast Missouri State University. We agreed that most of these changes have been for the better. More of our programs are approaching excellence now. Others are just a stride or two away. ...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry DePree of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:25 a.m. Friday, May 13, 1994. Name, Jazmon LeAnn. Weight, 6 pounds 13 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. DePree is the former Leslie Carmona, daughter of Jackie and Jim Johnson of Jackson. DePree is employed at Midwest Sterilization, and is the son of Mary Lyons and Sola DePree of Cape Girardeau...

Funeral service for Lois Jeanette Middlebrook, 514 Amethyst, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. James AME Church. The Rev. Simon Perkins will officiate, with burial in Fairmount Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 6-8 p.m. today. Algee Memorial Chapel in Cairo, Ill., is in charge of arrangements...

BLOOMFIELD -- Funeral service for Jewell Maxine Taylor of Bloomfield will be held at 10 a.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Vick Suhany will officiate, with burial in Bloomfield Cemetery. Taylor, 69, died Monday, May 16, 1994, at Jewish Hospital in St. Louis...

SIKESTON -- Curtis Byrd, 52, of Detroit, Mich., died Wednesday, May 11, 1994. He was born March 30, 1942, in Geiger, Ala., son of Roosevelt and Marie Andrews Byrd. He and Lonnie V. Crawford were married in 1967. Byrd was educated at Sikeston schools, and attended Grace Chapel Missionary Baptist Church...

SIKESTON -- Elwood R. Kinder Sr., 80, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, May 18, 1994, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Feb. 25, 1914, in Scott City, son of Earnest and Clara Shumate Kinder. He first married Pauline "Polly" Keesee, who died Nov. 8, 1970. He and Ila Beck Underhill were married Dec. 24, 1973...

Marie Anna Wiedefeld, 83, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, May 18, 1994, at the Lutheran Home. She was born June 1, 1910, at Leopold, daughter of Herman and Mary Engelen Landewee. She and John J. Wiedefeld were married June 11, 1938, at Kelso. He died March 28, 1977...

GLENNON -- Fred William DeBrock, 82, of Glennon, died Wednesday, May 18, 1994, at Bond Nursing Care Center in Marble Hill. He was born July 12, 1911, at Glennon, son of William and Agnes Brands DeBrock. He and Martha Christine Vandeven were married Sept. 14, 1938...

Richard Harold Moore, 82, of Rosebud, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, May 18, 1994, at Gerald Caring Center in Gerald. He was born Oct. 1, 1911, in Advance, son of Rufus and Flora Allen Moore. He and Allie Bass were married in 1935. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jimmie Moore of Rosebud; four brothers, Lyman Moore of California, Roy Moore of Michigan, Jesse Moore of Joplin, Lee Moore of St. ...

An employer could save $4,000 a year in insurance premiums, improved productivity and fewer sick days for each employee who quits smoking. Organizers of a workplace wellness seminar hope that information might be incentive enough for employers to consider strengthening smoking policies and encouraging employees to quit...

PERRYVILLE -- Riverboat gambling is still a loser in Perry County. Election officials recounted the April 5 punch card ballots twice Thursday, but the results were unchanged from the election night tally. Voters rejected the gambling amendment by a vote of 1,330 against to 831 for...

American Publishing purchased its first chain of 16 papers in 1986. In the past eight years the chain has experienced phenomenal growth. Today it boasts 340 U.S. daily and weekly newspapers, including the Chicago Sun-Times. But while the industry can marvel at its growth, not everyone agrees with American Publishing's tactics in removing the competition...

MALDEN -- An old-fashioned turf battle is being waged in Southeast Missouri between two growing newspaper groups -- Rust Communications and American Publishing Co. The result has been two new store-drop "advertisers" in Malden, a new free weekly in Malden, new free weekly publications in Kennett and Dexter, and the purchase of existing newspapers by both groups in Blytheville and Osceola, Ark...

Cacti to calico, pottery to peanuts, the unique and unusual will be featured by arts and crafts vendors at Riverfest '94. Scheduled for June 10-11 in downtown Cape Girardeau, Riverfest features a variety of entertainment and activities for the family, including fireworks on June 11...

Something peculiar is going on in Nashville. Not that the city isn't ripe for odd goings-on. A sleeping giant of a city in the near South, Nashville probably hasn't been the same since Robert Altman encapsulated its foibles and Americanism in a bicentennial-year, Oscar-winning movie...

WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. -- American Publishing Company generated $185 million in revenues during 1993. But despite impressive revenues, the company has reported net losses each year since its entry into the newspaper business in 1986. Net losses were $1.48 million in 1993, $7.47 million in 1992, and $13.68 million in 1991, according to the company's prospectus prepared for its first recent public stock offering...

Doug Richards has withdrawn as a Democratic candidate for Cape Girardeau County associate commissioner of the 2nd District. Richards said Thursday he withdrew because there is a possibility he will be moving to a residence located in the 1st District and he did feel right about continuing the race. In order to serve as an associate commissioner, you must live in the district you represent...

JACKSON -- Legislation sponsored by Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson, and approved by the latest session of the Missouri General Assembly will eliminate unnecessary testing by crime laboratories to determine whether unopened cans of beer are indeed beer...

Michael Fichter's passport doesn't gather dust. It's used too much for that. A criminal justice professor at Southeast Missouri State University, Fichter has visited Bulgaria twice in the last three years, viewing prisons. He intends to write a book about that country's penal system...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education will meet in special session today to hire two assistant principals for Central High School. A number of teaching positions are also slated to be filled at the meeting, scheduled for 11 a.m. at the board conference room, 61 N. Clark...